London 2012: Missile tenants lose legal ruling - BBC News
Lawyer David Enright: "The clear implication of today's judgement is that the Ministry of Defence now has the power to militarise the private homes of any person"
Residents have lost their High Court battle to prevent surface-to-air missiles being stationed on the roof of their tower block during the Olympics.
They had said having them on Fred Wigg Tower in Leytonstone, east London, would make them a terrorist target.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said the missile deployment is legitimate and proportionate.
A judge said residents were "under something of a misapprehension" regarding the equipment and risks.
Mr Justice Haddon-Cave said he agreed with the MoD that a tower block was the only suitable site for missiles and the facts of the case were "not susceptible to a sensible challenge".
He added the MoD's voluntary engagement with the community over the plans was "immaculate" and the residents who challenged the missile sites had misunderstood the facts.
'Evil statement'Justice Haddon-Cave said the MoD had no duty to consult, had not promised to and no "conspicuous unfairness" was caused by not consulting.
He added: "The law and the facts militate against the claim for judicial review.
"In my judgment the MoD's voluntary engagement with the community and residents in this matter were immaculate".
The 15-storey tower block is one of six locations selected for missiles to be stationed.
David Forsdick, appearing on behalf of the MoD, said the deployment would "happen imminently and will not be stayed".
The residents' barrister, Marc Willers, said any appeal move would be made quickly, "possibly" on Wednesday morning.
He added the tenants who do not want to stay during the Olympics may be found alternative accommodation.
On Monday, Mr Willers, said their block could become the "focus of a terrorist attack" to make an "evil statement".
The defence secretary was accused by the local residents' association of breaching Article 8 and Article 1 of Protocol 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
These protect an individual's right to a private life and peaceful enjoyment of their home.
The MoD was also accused of failing to carry out an equality impact assessment to take into account the needs of disabled residents.
Mr Forsdick said the decision over where to position the missiles was taken at the "highest levels after rigorous scrutiny".
He said it was signed off by the prime minister, deputy prime minister, home secretary and defence secretary in "defence of the realm".
He told the court: "The MoD, intelligence agencies and the Metropolitan Police do not consider there is any credible threat to the Fred Wigg Tower from terrorism."
That view, he said, was supported by a witness statement from Dr Campbell McCafferty, head of UK counter-terrorism at the MoD.
London 2012 Paralympic Games: Top 50 highlights - Metro.co.uk
ATHLETICS
1 T44 100m final, Olympic Stadium
Thursday, September 6
The stand-out race of the Games, with a fascinating three-way battle in prospect. Global superstar Oscar ‘Blade Runner’ Pistorius faces American rival Jerome Singleton and our own Jonnie Peacock, who recently broke South African Pistorius’ world record.
2 T54 800m, Olympic Stadium
Thursday, September 6
Reigning champion David Weir is arguably the world’s finest all-round wheelchair athlete, with four medals over four distances in Beijing. But Kurt Fearnley, the 2008 silver medallist, and world-record holder Marcel Hug are a massive threat to Briton Weir’s ambitions.
3 F44 Discus, Olympic Stadium
Thursday, September 6
Another chance for home glory, with Britain’s world champ Dan Greaves the favourite. Greaves has a real point to prove having taken bronze four years ago and silver in 2004. American Jeremy Campbell is his biggest threat.
4 T42 200m, Olympic Stadium
Saturday, September 1
Britain’s Richard Whitehead became the first leg amputee to break the three-hour barrier for the marathon in 2009. However, with no marathon for his classification in London he took up the 200m and has already beaten the world record.
5 T54 Marathon, The Mall
Sunday, September 9
David Weir opted not to enter the marathon in Beijing because of fatigue, but is targeting the event this year. His sixth London Marathon triumph in April bodes well but the runner-up that day, Marcel Hug, and 2008 gold medallist Kurt Fearnley could stop him.
6 T34 100m final, Olympic Stadium
Friday, August 31
Britain’s Hannah Cockroft became the first athlete to break a world record at the Olympic Stadium in May’s test event. American Kristen Messer is out to scupper Cockroft’s hopes of a repeat performance.
7 T44 100m, Olympic Stadium
Saturday, September 1 and Sunday, September 2
American April Holmes and France’s Marie-Amelie Le Fur have history. In Beijing, their 200m medal hopes ended when Holmes crashed into Le Fur. Days later Holmes won the 100m ahead of Le Fur, with just 0.02 seconds separating the top four. Likely to be one of the closest races of the Games.
8 T13 100m, Olympic Stadium
Saturday, September 1
Visually impaired Irish sprinter Jason Smyth is the fastest Paralympian on the planet, with training partner Tyson Gay hailing him as one of the most technically gifted sprinters alive.
9 T54 1,500m, Olympic Stadium
Friday, September 7
British star Shelly Woods is hoping to go one better than her Beijing silver but beating formidable American Tatyana McFadden is a big ask for this year’s London Marathon winner.
10 T37 1500m final, Olympic Stadium
Monday, September 3
Ireland’s Michael McKillop, an 800m gold medallist in 2008, is the one to watch in this one.
11 F57 Javelin, Olympic Stadium
Saturday, September 8
Grudge match alert. Britain’s javelin world champion Nathan Stephens meets big Czech rival Rostislav Pohlmann, who knocked our man out of the medal places in Beijing.
12 T44 400m final, Olympic Stadium
Saturday, September 8
Oscar Pistorius defends his title in his favourite event on the final Saturday of the Games.
13 T36 200m final, Olympic Stadium
Thursday, September 6
A potential battle of the Brits for gold in the T36 sprints between Ben Rushgrove and Graeme Ballard.
14 F44 Long Jump, Olympic Stadium
Sunday, September 2
Britain’s Stef Reid will compete on the track in the 200m and is one of the favourites in the long jump, up against Aussie Kelly Cartwright.
15 T12 100m final, Olympic Stadium
Sunday, September 2
Britain’s Libby Clegg is aiming to improve on her silver in China and could well trigger a gold-medal rush on the first Sunday of the Games.
SWIMMING
16 Women’s S6 100m Freestyle
Saturday, September 8
Ellie took 100m gold in Beijing but Mirjam de Koning-Peper beat her at the European Championships in Berlin earlier this year.
17 Women’s SM8 200m Individual Medley
Wednesday, September 5
Jessica Long recently set five new world records at the US trials. She will be hoping to repeat that form.
18 Women’s SM9 200m Individual Medley final
Thursday, September 6
South African pool legend Natalie du Toit, winner of five gold medals in Beijing four years ago, is aiming for a record seven in London this year, although Spain’s Sarai Gascon will be determined to stop her achieving the feat.
19 Men’s SM8 200m Medley
Wednesday, September 5
British brothers Ollie and Beijing gold medallist Sam Hynd will make it a family affair as they compete against each other for the first time.
20 Women’s SB6 100m Breaststroke
Wednesday, September 5
Reigning Olympic and European champion Liz Johnson is the favourite but her team-mate Charlotte Henshaw will mount a challenge.
21 Men’s S10 100m Freestyle
Thursday, September 6
Andre Brasil, of Brazil [where else?], holding no less than eight world records, will be the man to beat.
22 200m SM6 Men’s Individual Medley
Monday, September 3
Britain’s winner of six Paralympic golds, Sascha Kindred, will aim to add to his tally.
WHEELCHAIR RUGBY
Basketball Arena
September 5-9
23 The bruising rivalry between USA and Canada made it to film – ‘Murderball’. The Americans have twice won gold since the event became a part of the Paralympics, but their arch-rivals and neighbours will be out to prove a point.
24 Australia’s Ryley Batt, at 22, is already a veteran of two Paralympics and arguably the most feared player in the sport. No doubt, he is the big draw.
WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL
25 Men’s quarter-finals day, North Greenwich Arena
Wednesday, September 5
Should be a classic Ashes battle with GB’s key man Simon Munn (above) primed for action against Australia. Home captain Jon Pollock admits there is ‘bad blood’ with the Aussies, so it should be quite tasty.
26 Women’s quarter-finals
Tuesday, September 4
Great Britain’s team are one of the youngest in the competition and are improving fast. They face a potential showdown in the knockout phases with reigning champions USA.
WHEELCHAIR TENNIS
27 Quad Singles, Eton Manor
September 1-8
Peter Norfolk won the first Paralympic tennis medal for Great Britain in 2004 and defended his title in 2008. He faces an intriguing showdown with American David Wagner – the duo regularly switch between No.1 and No.2 in the rankings.
28 Women’s Singles final, Eton Manor
Friday, September 7
Esther Vergeer has been world No.1 for ten years and is on an amazing 457-match winning streak. She’ll be looking to add to the five Paralympic golds she has won to date.
ROAD CYCLING
29 Men’s Time Trial, Brands Hatch
Wednesday, September 5
Former Formula One driver Alex Zanardi is now a leading name in paracycling following a 2001 crash that resulted in the amputation of his legs. He will be seeking more medals for Italy.
CYCLING
30 Women’s Individual Pursuit, Velodrome,
Thursday, August 30
Sarah Storey (left) won 16 Paralympic swimming medals before switching to cycling, where she has proved equally successful. She was the first disabled cyclist to compete in the Commonwealth Games, in 2010.
CEREMONIES
31 Opening Ceremony, Olympic Stadium
Wednesday, August 29
The opening ceremony will showcase the excellence of some of the UK’s most creative disabled artists with some innovative staging. The show will open with a fly-past by ‘Aerobility’, a British charity that trains disabled people to become pilots.
32 Closing Ceremony, Olympic Stadium
Sunday, September 9
The ‘Festival of Flame’ has Coldplay performing live with an estimated worldwide audience of 750million.
EQUESTRIAN
33 Men’s Individual Championship Test: Grade IB, Greenwich Park
Monday, September 3
Britain’s Lee Pearson is expected to be one of the biggest stars at London 2012 having previously won nine Paralympic golds. He will be going for individual gold on the first Monday of the Games.
34 Team Test
Friday, August 31
Ten world-class British riders have battled for just five spaces. The successful team will then be expecting to face Germany for gold.
FIVE-A-SIDE FOOTBALL
35 Semi-finals, Riverbank Arena, Olympic Park
Thursday, September 6
When it comes to blind football, GB’s main man is David Clarke who is not only the longest-serving member of the British squad, but also England’s greatest goalscorer, having scored 106 times in 109 appearances.
SEVEN-A-SIDE FOOTBALL
36 Riverbank Arena, Olympic Park Kicks off
Saturday, September 1
Paralympics GB features star man Michael Barker – who played with Wayne Rooney at the Everton youth academy before a road accident. The team has set a target of a top-six finish in the rankings, which would provide them with a major springboard into the 2016 Games.
37 Men’s final, Riverbank Arena, Olympic Park
Sunday, September 9
The giants of the sport are Ukraine, who are in Great Britain’s group. They scored 27 goals in five matches on their way to gold at the last Games. But Russia got 32 in six matches en route to becoming world champions last year. Will there be a goal-fest in the final?
GOALBALL
38 Opening days for ParalympicsGB, Copper Box
Thursday, August 30
Britain’s Goalball teams will make their Paralympic debuts at London 2012 when the men face Lithuania, the Beijing 2008 silver medallists, and the women take on the world champions, China.
SITTING VOLLEYBALL
39 Women’s prelims, GB v Netherlands, ExCel
Friday, August 31
Martine Wright lost both legs in the London bombings on July 7, 2005. She lost three quarters of her blood before being rescued at Aldgate station. This year she has been selected for the GB squad, who face a tough opener against European champions Ukraine.
BOCCIA
40 Team gold medals BC1-2, ExCel
Friday, September 7
David Smith (left), currently ranked second in the world, is a key part of the team who will be defending their title. He says his fiancée will refuse to marry him if he doesn’t win in 2012!
TABLE TENNIS
41 Table Tennis, Team finals, ExCel
Friday, September 7
Zhang Xiaoling of China has won nine gold, one silver and two bronze medals. China’s toughest competition will come from France.
42 Men’s Table Tennis, Class 07, ExCel
Monday, September 3
World No.1 Will Bayley has won more than ten international golds but faces a tough test ruling the capital in the shape of defending champion Jochen Wollmert. Bayley said of his German rival: ‘We don’t talk much. We’re not close friends. I’d love to beat him in London.’
SAILING
43 Paralympic Sailing, Sonar class, Weymouth & Portland
Thursday, September 6
Britain’s Stephen Thomas is a two-time world champion and one of the real stars of the British squad. He could only finish sixth in Beijing last time out but is hopeful of doing much better this summer.
JUDO
44 Judo, -60kg B3, ExCel
Thursday, August 30
World and European champion Ben Quilter could be one of Britain’s first medallists of the Games if he can see off the expected threat of Azerbaijan’s Ramin Ibrahimov.
ROWING
45 Single Sculls, ASM1x, Eton Dorney
Friday, August 31
Big day for three-time world champion and defending gold medallist Tom Aggar (above), whose promising rugby career was ended by an accident in 2005 which left him paralysed from the waist down. He is currently No.1 in the world.
46 Mixed Adaptive Double Sculls, TAMix2x, Eton Dorney
Friday, August 31
Brits Sam Scowen and Nick Beighton have improved quickly since teaming up and qualifying for the Games, notching a sixth-placed finis at the world championships last year.
ARCHERY
47 Individual Compound, Royal Artillery Barracks
Tuesday, September 4
Britain’s Danielle Brown is the current Paralympic champion but knows she will face stiff competition from China and Japan.
SHOOTING
48 Mixed Air Rifle Prone SH1, Royal Artillery Barracks
Saturday, September 1
Matt Skelhon won gold and broke the world record at the 2008 Paralympic Games, hitting the bullseye an incredible 60 times in a row. China’s Zhang Cuiping lost in Beijing by just half a point and will be looking to get his revenge on Skelhon by claiming gold this time around in London.
WHEELCHAIR FENCING
49 Women’s Individual Epee, ExCel
Wednesday, September 5
Paralympic GB’s young female epee trio of Gemma Collis, Gabi Down and Justine Moore has an average age of 18 but could spring a surprise on home soil. Down, 14, will be one of the youngest British athletes to compete at the Games.
POWERLIFTING
50 56kg, ExCel
Friday, August 31
Ali Jawad is in the best form of his life after winning the British Powerlifting Championships for the seventh time – setting three national records in the process. The Tottenham lifter will be aiming to replicate this form in London in the fiercely competitive 56kg category.
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